Mildred Elkin, 1921-2011

On Thursday, July 28, 2011, God received a gift of his next angel. Mildred L. Elkin, 89, died peacefully at the home of her daughter, surrounded by her children, Elaine, Nena, Kena and Debbie.

A memorial service, under the loving care and direction of Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel, will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, at Red Top Christian Church in Hallsville, with the Rev. Bill Ryan officiating. A private family graveside service will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends to celebrate the life of Mildred Elkin will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at the funeral chapel.

Saturday, Oct. 1, 1921, was a day of celebration at the Hallsville home of Forrest and Esther Schooler Willett when Mildred L. Willett was born, the fifth of eight children.

At the age of 19, Mildred was united in holy matrimony to Frank L. “Bud” Elkin, who preceded her in death in March of 2000.

Mrs. Elkin graduated from Hallsville High School and was a member of Red Top Christian Church. Mrs. Elkin, along with friends Doris Reynolds and Arvella Ellis, petitioned the Boone County RIV Board of Education in 1959 to begin the process of developing and implementing Hallsville’s first kindergarten program. Mildred served in the capacity of the school’s “room mother” for more than 25 years. Mrs. Elkin was an active Lady of the Shrine in Columbia in her younger days.

Mildred will always be remembered as a kind, gentle and giving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, sister, sister-in-law and aunt. Every sense of her being was that of a “lady.” Known to many as “Mamo,” Mildred was an exemplary model of motherhood, caring and sacrificing for her children, beyond imagination or compare. She was a totally unselfish and incredibly loved lady who “lived a truly fruitful life,” as seen through her actions and the children she leaves behind.

Mrs. Elkin devoted her life to nurturing her loving family of five children, Frank Phillip “Phil” Elkin, who preceded her in death, and Linda Elaine (Ray) George, Nena Colette (John) Kallenbach, Kena Lynn (Curt) Forbis, all of Hallsville, and Deborah Denise (Mike) Kelley of Columbia.